Tree stand



Dec. 16, 1952 3 KRUGER 2,621,878

TREE STAND Filed June 6, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Fig.

20 /2 Guss 0. Kruger 2, INVENTOR. 23 5 9 24 22 BY @Mmzm" Dec. 16, 1952 0, RU E 2,621,878

I TREE STAND Filed June 6, 1951 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 F/g- 5 I IN V EN TOR.

, a I 2 Guss 0. Kruger,

Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TREE STAND Guss 0. Kruger, Madison, S. Dak.

Application June 6, 1951, Serial No. 230,111

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in Christmas tree stands of the wire constructed, folding type.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a tree stand of the type indicated in which a single pair of upright wire trunk braces are swingable upwardly against opposite sides of the trunk and adapted to be connected by a straddle yoke so that said braces and yoke surround and hold the trunk upright without requiring attachment of any parts of the stand directly to the trunk.

Another object is to provide a simple practical friction locking means for connecting the braces together by the straddle yoke.

Still another object is to provide for folding of the braces, yoke and friction locking means down onto a base into compact flat form for easily handling and convenient storing.

Other and subordinate objects within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved stand illustrating the manner in which the trunk braces and straddle yokes are used;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 3 is a View in transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in plan drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the stand.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, my improved tree stand, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, comprises a base ring I cross braced by crossed pairs of tie wires 2, 3 arranged in opposite relation in each pair with the ends thereof suitably connected to the base ring I, and the pairs crossed in right angular relation in the center of said ring. The wires of the pair 2 are preferably parallel, and the wires of the pair 3 provided with relatively diverging ends 4, for a purpose presently seen.

A box 5 for containing water is suitably fixed to the pairs 2, 3 of tie wires in the center of said ring I for receiving the butt of the tree trunk 6.

A pair of transverse cleats 'I on the box 6 provide for centering the trunk 6 in said box.

A pair of trunk braces 8, 9, of inverted U-shane are pivoted to opposite sides of the base ring 9 by end eyes 8', 9' thereon surrounding said ring I between the ends 4 of the tie wires 3 which prevent sliding of said braces 8, 9 circumferentially of said ring I. The trunk braces 8, 9 flare towards the base ring I for stabilizing said braces laterally, are provided with straight bight ends II, I2 for engaging the tree trunk 6, and are swingable from a downwardly folded, overlapping position into upwardly converging relation to dispose said bight ends I I, I2,against opposite sides of the tree trunk 6. Tie wires I3, I 4 connect the ends of each trunk brace 8, 9 together adjacent the eyes 8, 9 to prevent said eyes from spreading apart. 7

A U-shaped wire straddle yoke I5 is pivotally mounted on the bight end I I of the trunk brace 8 by means of coils I ii on the bight end I I of said yoke and so that said yoke is swingable on the bight end II of the trunk brace 8 to fold in between the sides of said brace 8, or, swingable into unfolded position to straddle the tree trunk 6 with its free ends I 8 extending below and across the bight end I2 of the trunk brace 9.

Friction gripping means is provided on the bight end I2 of the trunk brace 9 for locking the ends I 8 of the straddle yoke I5 to said trunk brace 9 and the pair of trunk braces 8, 9 in upwardly inclining position with the bight ends I I, I2 thereof engaging opposite sides of said trunk 6.

The friction gripping means comprises a U- shaped member 20 of resilient wire pivotally mounted on the bight end I2 of the trunk brace 9 by a pair of connected coils 2 I, said member 20 including a pair of side coils 22 for the insertion of the ends I3 of the straddle yoke I 5 therethrough, and a pair of side arms 23 forming extensions of said coils 22 and flexible to engage end hooks 24 thereon with the sides of the -trunk brace 9 to swing the coils 22 into binding frictionlocking engagement with the ends I8 of said yoke I5. The pivotal mounting of the member 29 provides for swinging said member in between the sides of the trunk brace 9 into folded position and also for swinging of said member and flexing of said coils to bind against the ends I8 of the yoke i5 in the operation of engaging the books 24 with the sides of the trunk brace 9. The base ring, the pairs 2, 3 of tie wires, the trunk braces 8, 9 and the tie wires I3, I4 are formed of substantially rigid wire.

The use and operation of my invention will be engage the bight ends I I,

readily understood. With the tree trunk 6 positioned with its butt end in the box 5, between the cleats l, the trunk braces 8, 9 are swung to 12 thereof with opposite sides of said trunk. At the same time, the straddle yoke I5, having been swung into straddling relation to said trunk 6, is manipulated to insert its ends l8 slidably through the coils 22, said coils being positionable for that purpose when the arms 23 are unhooked from the sides of the trunk brace 9. After the ends I8 of the straddle yoke l5 are inserted through the coils 22, the arms 23 are flexed toward the sides of the trunk brace 9 and the hooks 24 engage with said sides so that said coils 22 are flexed and otherwise moved bodily downwardly to cause the same to bind against said ends 18 and thus frictionally lock the straddle yoke to the trunk brace 9 and the braces 8, 9 in engaged relation to said trunk 6. As will be seen, the straddle yoke l5 and bight ends ll, [2 of said braces 8, 9 surround and embrace the trunk 6 to hold the same upright. When the stand is not in use, the trunk braces 8, 9, straddle yoke l5, and member 29 may be swung into fiat folded position with said braces straddling the box 5 and in overlapping relation, all as shown in Figures 3, 4, and for transporting or storing.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suflice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modification as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A tree stand comprising a base ring having a rest mounted thereon for supporting the butt of the tree trunk, a pair of inverted U-shaped trunk braces having bight portions and ends pivoted to opposite sides of said ring for swin ing of said braces into upwardly converging relation to engage said bight portions with opposite sides of said trunk, a U-shaped straddle yoke having a bight portion pivotally connected to the bight portion of one of said braces for swinging of said yoke into horizontal straddling relation to-said trunk with the ends of the yoke extending across the bight portion of the other brace, a U-shaped resilient wire member coiled around the bight portion of said other brace with a pair of laterally flexible coils thereon through which the ends of the straddle yoke are extended for friction locking engagement therewith by lateral flexing of the pair of coils to hold the bight portions of said braces engaged with opposite sides of said trunk, said pair of coils terminating in a pair of arms manipulative laterally to flex said coils and provided with means thereon for locking the same to the sides of said other brace to hold said arms in manipulated position and said pair of coils flexed laterally.

2. A tree stand according to claim 1, said means comprising end hooks on said arms.

GUSS O. KRUGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,799,513 Hill Apr. 7, 1931 2,485,081 Ahrens Oct. 18, 1949 

